Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety BoardLocation: Churchville, MDAccident Number: ERA18LA098Date & Time: 03/06/2018, 2117 ESTRegistration: N101ADAircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20Injuries: 2 MinorFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal On March 6, 2018, about 2117 eastern standard time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR20, N101AD, was destroyed during landing at Harford County Airport (0W3), Churchville, Maryland. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The pilot stated that before departure he checked the weather using several online weather resources and found that the destination airport was reporting visual meteorological conditions. About 30 minutes prior to their arrival it started snowing. He descended from 9,500 ft to 4,000 feet, to get out of the snow and to warmer temperatures. After reaching 4,000 ft he continued to descend and encountered a temperature inversion. With snow continuing to accumulate on the airplane, he elected to divert and land at the closest airport. He landed at a slightly higher airspeed than normal and the airplane ballooned during touchdown and drifted off the side of the runway, impacting two equipment trucks.Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the engine and the tail had separated from the airframe, and there was damage to the left wing.The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. The four-seat, low wing airplane was manufactured in 2002 and was equipped with a Continental IO-360, 200-horsepower reciprocating engine.The weather conditions reported at Phillips Army Airfield (APG), Aberdeen, Maryland, about 6 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 160° at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, light rain, temperature 4° C, dew point 2° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury. Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Manufacturer: CIRRUS DESIGN CORPRegistration: N101ADModel/Series: SR20 NO SERIESAircraft Category: AirplaneAmateur Built: NoOperator:Operating Certificate(s) Held: None Meteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Instrument ConditionsCondition of Light: NightObservation Facility, Elevation: KAPG, 57 ft mslObservation Time: 2103 ESTDistance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical MilesTemperature/Dew Point: 4°C / 2°CLowest Cloud Condition:Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots/ 17 knots, 160°Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1100 ft aglVisibility: 5 MilesAltimeter Setting: 29.91 inches HgType of Flight Plan Filed:Departure Point: CALHOUN, GA (CZL)Destination: MOUNT HOLLY, NJ (VAY) Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 2 MinorLatitude, Longitude: 39.566944, -76.202500

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A plane with two people inside crashed near the Harford Airport in Aldino Tuesday evening, according to a Harford County emergency official. The crash happened before 9:30 p.m.The aircraft crashed in the 3800 block of Aldino Road, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.Nobody was injured, Gardiner said, and there were two people in the plane at the time.There was no fire, and there were not any road closures as a result of the plane crash, he added.According to Gardiner, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.Original article can be found here ➤ https://patch.com

LONDON (Reuters) - Ryanair has cut the price of a course for new pilots to fly its 737 planes, the Irish budget airline’s operations chief said on Wednesday, as it tries to avoid more staffing problems. Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights last year as it did not have enough standby pilots to ensure the smooth running of its schedule. While Ryanair has denied there was a pilot shortage, chief operations officer Peter Bellew told reporters the move would help Ryanair grow without fresh problems.“What we’re going to do now for the next couple of years is we’re going to get ahead of the game,” he said, adding that even if Ryanair chose to expand a bit quicker than planned, “we’re not going to have any limiting resource around pilots.” Pilots wishing to join Ryanair will have to pay 5,000 euros ($6,200) for their so-called type rating course to fly the 737, down from 29,500 euros.A type rating determines which kind of planes pilots fly, often a 737 or an A320 at Europe’s low cost carriers, and is done after gaining an airline transport license.The price varies from airline to airline and is not included in the fees for training at pilot schools, which can be around 80,000 pounds.Bellew said Ryanair had also reactivated links with pilot training schools and ordered seven new simulators. Cancellations, which started last September, sparked a pilot revolt, prompting Ryanair to recognize unions for the first time.Chief executive Michael O’Leary said on Tuesday that talks with unions could cause some disruption to flights in Ireland and Portugal in the coming months.He also said he expected flights to be disrupted in April 2019 after Britain leaves the European Union, but on Wednesday, chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs played down those comments.“We don’t think Ryanair aircraft are going to be grounded in 2019 because of Brexit,” he said, adding the agreement of a transition period for Britain’s departure would delay any possible disruption to January 2021.“There is a blueprint for transition that is going in the right direction, but there is not a deal done yet,” he said.Jacobs also welcomed the Britain’s announcement that it wants to remain part of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).He was speaking at the launch of Ryanair’s winter schedule, including a new route from London Stansted to Nantes, and its environmental policy. Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.reuters.com

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.Additional Participating Entity:Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Jose, CaliforniaAviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfhttp://registry.faa.gov/N33807

National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Preliminary ReportLocation: Paso Robles, CAAccident Number: WPR18LA101Date & Time: 03/06/2018, 2230 PSTRegistration: N33807Aircraft: PIPER PA 28R-200Injuries: 2 NoneFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional On March 6, 2018 about 2230 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N33807, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an emergency landing near Paso Robles Airport (PRB), Paso Robles, California. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to McClelland Aviation Inc. and operated by the CFI under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California at 1900.The CFI reported that after they executed a touch and go at PRB, and during the initial climb, they heard a "loud tick" noise and the Low Vacuum annunciator light illuminated. The CFI retracted the landing gear and instructed the pilot to retract flaps. At 350-400 ft above ground level, the airplane lost engine power and the CFI executed an emergency landing to a nearby field.In a postcrash interview with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge, the CFI stated that there was 48 gallons of fuel and 6 quarts of oil on board prior to takeoff.The following day, an Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage and noted that the oil dipstick cap was loose, and that the engine contained about 1 quart of oil. The wreckage was retained for further examination. Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Manufacturer: PIPERRegistration: N33807Model/Series: PA 28R-200 200Aircraft Category: AirplaneAmateur Built:Operator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: None Meteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site:Condition of Light:Observation Facility, Elevation:Observation Time:Distance from Accident Site:Temperature/Dew Point:Lowest Cloud Condition:Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:Lowest Ceiling:Visibility: Altimeter Setting:Type of Flight Plan Filed:Departure Point:Destination: Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 2 NoneAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: N/AAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 2 NoneLatitude, Longitude:

UPDATE (12 a.m.) - The Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services has released new details on the crash-landing.Battalion Chief Paul Patti reports a student pilot and his flight instructor experienced engine failure before reaching full altitude. The cause of the failure was not known.The instructor took over the controls and tried to return to the airport. The aircraft was gliding with no engine power as the pilot maneuvered the plane away from homes, power lines and traffic before falling short of the airport, Patti said.The fire department affirms the student and pilot were not injured. The plane has moderate damage. It did not leak oil or fuel into the field.The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were contacted. CAL FIRE, Paso Robles police and the airport manager assisted.ORIGINAL STORY - A small plane crash-landed in a man's yard in Paso Robles Tuesday night. KSBY viewer Jim Norman took a Facebook Live video when he heard the crash landing around 8:30 p.m. in his yard, which is on the 3300 block of Dry Creek Road. "They're gonna light him up now, so I'll turn off my lights," he said, referring to a helicopter shining a spotlight on the plane, which had crash-landed in a field minutes earlier. "That's an airplane."Norman estimates the single-engine Piper Arrow landed about 150 yards away south of the runway and Dry Creek Road."Nobody landed on my house, so, that's a bonus for me!" Norman said. "Everybody's all good."Norman told KSBY the plane landed safely without power in the field, wheels up, and no injuries.Two people were reportedly in the plane at the time of the crash.According to FlightAware, the plane is registered to McClelland Aviation in San Jose and made a successful flight from Salinas to San Jose early in the evening.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.ksby.com

PASO ROBLES – Earlier this Tuesday evening at approximate 8:30 p.m. the Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services responded to an Aircraft incident near the Paso Robles Airport. Arriving responders found an upright plane in a field just south of Dry Creek Road.The plane, a single-engine Piper aircraft took off from the Paso Robles Airport with two passengers who had just had a brief layover from the Bay Area. A student pilot and his instructor experience engine failure before they reached full altitude.The instructor immediately took over the plane’s controls and attempted to return and land safely at the airport. The instructor was able to maneuver and glide the plane away from homes, power line and traffic lines. He failed short in his attempt to reach the airport and landed in the field.Battalion Chief Paul Patti reports that neither person on the plane sustained injuries. The plane sustained moderate damage without the release of any contaminants into the environment. The cause of the engine failure is unknown at this time.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were contacted from the scene. Resources were provided by CAL Fire, the Paso Robles Police Department and the Paso Robles Airport Manager.Original article can be found here ➤ https://pasoroblespress.com

PASO ROBLES, Calif. - A single-engine Piper aircraft that took off from the Paso Robles Airport made an emergency landing Tuesday night around 8:30 shortly after takeoff. When emergency responders arrived they found the aircraft upright in a field just south of Dry Creek Road.
Officials with the City of Paso Robles said, aboard the plane was an instructor and student pilot. The plane had been on a brief layover from the Bay Area before taking off in Paso. The plane suffered engine failure before it reached full altitude. The pilot was able to maneuver the aircraft away from homes, power lines and traffic before gliding into a field near the airport.CAL FIRE, the Paso Police Department, and the Paso Robles Airport Manager assisted in the incident.There were no injuries reported.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.keyt.com

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.Additional Participating Entities: Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas Robinson Helicopter Company; Torrance, California Lycoming Engines; White, GeorgiaAviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfInvestigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdmshttp://registry.faa.gov/N789MRLocation: Jonesboro, ARAccident Number: CEN16FA215Date & Time: 06/12/2016, 1530 CDTRegistration: N789MRAircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 IIAircraft Damage: DestroyedDefining Event: Collision during takeoff/landInjuries: 1 FatalFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal Location: Jonesboro, ARAccident Number: CEN16FA215Date & Time: 06/12/2016, 1530 CDTRegistration: N789MRAircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 IIAircraft Damage: DestroyedDefining Event: Low altitude operation/eventInjuries: 1 FatalFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - PersonalAnalysis During the 2 to 3 hours before the accident, a witness saw the commercial pilot drinking from a cup that smelled like alcohol and noticed that he refilled the cup two or three times. He then heard the pilot say that he was going to put on an airshow. The helicopter lifted off at a 45° angle backward and upward, reach an altitude of about 125 ft, and then descend out of sight behind hangars. A postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter's tail contacted the ground behind the hangars resulting in separation of both tail rotor blades. The helicopter then rose above the hangars and began to spin. The helicopter descended again, impacted terrain, and burst into flames. The examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter. Toxicology testing detected diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, and elevated levels of ethanol in the pilot's blood and tissues. The pilot was most likely impaired by the combination of ingested alcohol and the use of diphenhydramine, both of which are central nervous system depressants. The impairing effects of the combination of these substances most likely contributed to his decision to fly after drinking alcohol as well as his inability to maintain control of the helicopter.Probable Cause and FindingsThe National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to his combined use of alcohol and diphenhydramine, which led to his improper decision to fly after drinking alcohol and degraded his ability to maintain control of the helicopter. FindingsAircraftPerformance/control parameters - Not attained/maintained (Cause)Personnel issuesAircraft control - Pilot (Cause)Alcohol - Pilot (Factor)OTC medication - Pilot (Factor)Decision making/judgment - Pilot (Factor)Factual InformationHistory of FlightPrior to flightMiscellaneous/otherTakeoffCollision during takeoff/landManeuvering-low-alt flyingAbrupt maneuverLow altitude operation/event (Defining event)On June 12, 2016, about 1530 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company, R44 II, Raven, helicopter, N789MR, impacted terrain during takeoff from the Classic Airstrip (23AR), near Jonesboro, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed during the impact and subsequent ground fire. The helicopter was registered to Floyd Vuncannon Aviation Inc. and was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from 23AR at the time of the accident.A witness, who was visiting a friend at an airstrip located just west of 23AR, reported that before noon, he saw the accident pilot drinking from a red cup that smelled like alcohol. The pilot refilled the cup 2 or 3 times during the next 2 or 3 hours. During the day, he saw the pilot going between hangars. When the witness finished working on a task, he heard the pilot say that he was going to put on an airshow. The witness saw the accident pilot getting into his helicopter, which was located east of him on 23AR. The witness observed the helicopter lift off at a 45° angle backward and upward. The helicopter rose to about 125 ft and then descended out of sight behind hangars that were located between 23AR's runway and the west airstrip. The witness reported that he thought he "heard it hit" but the engine never shutdown. The helicopter began to rise upwards above the hangars and it began to spin around. It appeared that the tail rotor was not working and the skids were bent as if it had hit the ground. The helicopter continued to rise to about the same height as when it lifted off. The helicopter then descended again, impacted terrain, and burst into flames in the middle of the west airstrip. The witness stated that another witness nearby called 911 and they waited for first responders to arrive.

Floyd Vuncannon

Pilot InformationCertificate: Flight Instructor; CommercialAge: 73, MaleAirplane Rating(s): Single-engine LandSeat Occupied: RightOther Aircraft Rating(s): Gyroplane; HelicopterRestraint Used: 3-pointInstrument Rating(s): AirplaneSecond Pilot Present: NoInstructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Gyroplane; HelicopterToxicology Performed: YesMedical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/LimitationsLast FAA Medical Exam: 05/01/2014Occupational Pilot: NoLast Flight Review or Equivalent:Flight Time: (Estimated) 6000 hours (Total, all aircraft) The 73-year-old pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, rotorcraft gyroplane, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate, expiring October 31, 2017, with airplane single engine, rotorcraft helicopter, and rotorcraft gyroplane ratings. He held a FAA second-class medical certificate issued on May 1, 2014, with the limitations that he "must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and intermediate vision." At the time of that medical examination, he reported 6,000 hours total flight time and 110 hours in the 6 months before that examination. A review of excerpts from the pilot's logbook did not reveal an entry for a flight review. The logbook pages were not totaled, and the last entry was dated August 2, 2015. Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Manufacturer: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANYRegistration: N789MRModel/Series: R44 II IIAircraft Category: HelicopterYear of Manufacture: 2004Amateur Built: NoAirworthiness Certificate: NormalSerial Number: 10561Landing Gear Type: Skid;Seats: 4Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/02/2015, AnnualCertified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbsTime Since Last Inspection:Engines: 1 ReciprocatingAirframe Total Time: 1242.1 Hours as of last inspectionEngine Manufacturer: LYCOMINGELT: Installed, not activatedEngine Model/Series: IO-540-AE1A5Registered Owner: FLOYD VUNCANNON AVIATION INCRated Power: 245 hpOperator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: None N789MR, serial number 10561, was a Robinson R44 II, Raven, four-place, two-bladed, single main rotor, single-engine helicopter, with a spring and yield skid type landing gear. The primary structure of its fuselage was welded steel tubing and riveted aluminum sheet. The tailcone was a monocoque structure consisting of an aluminum skin. A Lycoming IO-540- AE1A5, serial number L-29728-48A, engine rated at 260 horsepower, powered the helicopter. However, according to the helicopter's type certificate, the engine had a 5-minute takeoff rating of 245 horsepower and a maximum continuous rating of 205 horsepower.A review of helicopter logbook excerpts that were provided by a FAA inspector, showed that the helicopter's last annual inspection was completed on July 2, 2015. At the time of that inspection, the helicopter had accumulated a total time of 1,242.1 hours.The helicopter manufacturer issued, R44 Service Bulletin (SB)-78B, on December 20, 2010, and issued a revised SB on September 28, 2012. The SB, in part, stated:TO: R44 and R44 II owners, operators, and maintenance personnelSUBJECT: Bladder Fuel Tank RetrofitROTORCRAFT AFFECTED: R44 helicopters S/N 0001 thru 2064, and R44 II helicopters S/N 10001 thru 12890, unless previously accomplished.TIME OF COMPLIANCE: As soon as practical, but no later than 30 April 2013.BACKGROUND: This bulletin requires R44 helicopters with all-aluminum fuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks. In addition to a factory retrofit program, a field kit is now available. To improve the R44 fuel system's resistance to a post-accident fuel leak, this retrofit must be performed as soon as possible.The review of the helicopter logbook excerpts did not reveal an entry for the installation of the bladder fuel tanks as called for by the SB. Meteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Visual ConditionsCondition of Light: DayObservation Facility, Elevation: KJBR, 262 ft mslObservation Time: 1538 CDTDistance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical MilesDirection from Accident Site: 273°Lowest Cloud Condition:Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 21°CLowest Ceiling:Visibility: 10 MilesWind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots, 90°Visibility (RVR):Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches HgVisibility (RVV):Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - In the Vicinity - Thunderstorms - No PrecipitationDeparture Point: Jonesboro, AR (23AR)Type of Flight Plan Filed: NoneDestination: Jonesboro, AR (23AR)Type of Clearance: NoneDeparture Time: 1530 CDTType of Airspace: At 1538, the recorded weather at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, near Jonesboro, Arkansas, located about 5 miles west of 23AR, included wind 090° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, present weather thunderstorms in the vicinity, temperature 34° C, dew point 21° C, and altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury. Airport InformationAirport: CLASSIC AIRSTRIP (23AR)Runway Surface Type: Grass/turfAirport Elevation: 260 ftRunway Surface Condition: DryRunway Used: N/AIFR Approach: NoneRunway Length/Width:VFR Approach/Landing: None 23AR was a private, non-towered airport, which was owned by an individual. It was located about 7 miles east of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The airport had an estimated elevation of 260 ft above mean sea level. The airport's published runway 17/35 was 2,600 ft by 80 ft with a turf surface.Another, privately-owned, north/south-oriented turf runway was located about 350 ft west of 23R's published runway.

Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 1 FatalAircraft Damage: DestroyedPassenger Injuries: N/AAircraft Fire: On-GroundGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 1 FatalLatitude, Longitude: 35.826389, -90.549167 The main helicopter wreckage was located about 1,800 ft on a magnetic heading of 35° from the intersection of Highway 18 and Barnhill Road. The turf, in a circular shaped area around the helicopter was found charred. Portions or the helicopter wreckage were discolored, deformed, and consumed by fire consistent with a ground fire.The helicopter's resting heading was about 270° magnetic. The tailcone was folded to the left and separated near its forward end. Most of the aluminum and fiberglass components of the fuselage were discolored, deformed, and consumed by fire. The separated aft section of the tailcone was located about 20 ft south of the airframe. The tail rotor gearbox remained attached to the aft bulkhead of the separated section of the tailcone. The empennage separated from the aft bulkhead and was located about 40 ft south of the airframe. The main rotor gearbox and main rotor were separated from the airframe and found about 3 ft north of the airframe. Ground scars north of the airframe were consistent with main rotor blade strikes. Main rotor blade tip pieces were recovered in and near the ground scars and yellow paint that matched the paint on the main rotor blade tips was transferred to the dirt inside the scars.Both tail rotor blades were separated near their roots and were found east of the airframe on the other side of the hangar located between 23R and the west airstrip. A series of ground scars consistent with the shape, size, and spacing of tail rotor blade strikes were located east of the location that the tail rotor blades were found.An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed that all flight control rod ends remained attached to their attachment points. Sections of push pull tubes were not continuous, separated from their original location, and/or consumed by fire. All flight control discontinuities exhibited either thermal damage or separations consistent with overload. No preimpact anomalies were detected in the flight control system.The fuel mixture control knob was found in the full rich position. The mixture control wire was found disconnected near its fuel mixture arm on the engine fuel control servo unit. The throttle linkage sustained thermal damage and its position could not be determined. The governor switch sustained thermal damage and its position could not be determined.The right skid tube was located under the main wreckage and it sustained thermal damage. The four struts that attached the left and right skid tubes were separated from the airframe and were thermally damaged. The aft cross tube appeared to be thermally deformed. A portion of the front cross tube was consumed by fire and the remaining end was not bent near its elbow.Observed damage to the cabin structure included deformation, discoloration, and consumption by fire. The removable cyclic and collective were recovered from under seat debris, and the removable pedals were installed. The pedals were found in a neutral position. The vertical tube of the cyclic control was bent aft. The cyclic grip was consumed by fire. The aft left and right doors were found in the main wreckage and they sustained thermal damage. The two front doors were not identified or found in the wreckage.The upper and lower frames were bent and had some separations in their tubes. The surface of the separations exhibited angular and jagged features consistent with overload. The lower edge of the vertical firewall was deformed. The tailcone was bent to the left and thermally damaged at its forward end.The separated aft section of the tailcone exhibited deformation damage consistent with several tail rotor blade strikes. The empennage was separated from the aft bulkhead. The surface of the separation was rough and jagged. The lower vertical stabilizer was bent to the right as viewed from its aft looking forward. A segment of the tail rotor guard that included the guard's curved section was separated below its forward mount and forward of its aft mount. The surfaces of the guard's separations were angular and jagged. The aft section of the tail rotor guard remained attached to its mount and the tip of the tail rotor guard exhibited witness marks consistent with scuffing on its lower left surface. The tailskid had some witness marks on its lowest bottom surface consistent with scuffing.Sections of the V-belts were consumed by fire with charred sections remaining in the grooves of the upper sheave and on the ground below the lower sheave. The alignment strut's outer rod end for the upper sheave exhibited a separation consistent with overload. No scoring was visible on the sheave face. Scoring was visible on the rod end jam nut adjacent to the aft sheave face. The overrunning clutch operated properly. The actuator was extended about 1 inch.The main rotor gearbox was separated at the upper housing. The main rotor driveshaft was bent about 15° at the swashplate. The mast tube was bent and exhibited thermal discoloration and damage. Both elastomeric teeter stops were consumed by fire and their brackets were bent across the center. One droop stop tusk was bent downward and the spindle was found cracked with and an angular and jagged separation surface. The other spindle coning bolthole was deformed. Both main rotor blades exhibited thermal damage and deformation consistent with impact damage.The lower frame tube adjacent to the intermediate flex coupling exhibited rotational scoring. The tail rotor driveshaft was bent near its forward end and was disconnected just aft of the bend. The tail rotor drive shaft damper bearing bracket was separated from the bulkhead. The damper bearing exhibited thermal damage and would not rotate. The tail rotor gearbox rotated with no anomalies. Oil was visible in its sight gage. The blades were separated near their roots. The surface of the tail rotor blades' separations exhibited angular and jagged features consistent with overload. Both blades were bent to the right and they exhibited leading edge damage at their tips. One blade exhibited deformation damage that was consistent with contact with rivet locations on the tailcone. Witness marks running chordwise near the blade tips were present on both blades, which appeared to be consistent with terrain contact.Observed damage to the cooling fan included discoloration and it was deformed around its forward edge. The cooling scroll was consumed by fire. The alternator and its cooling fan exhibited thermal damage.The engine was found lying upright and it remained attached to its tubular engine mounts. The exterior surfaces of the engine were discolored consistent with exposure to a post-impact fire. Sections of the oil sump were consumed in the fire. The fuel servo was found separated and partially thermally consumed. The remaining rear mounted accessories exhibited features consistent with fire damaged.The engine was partially disassembled. The engine's crankshaft was rotated by turning the cooling fan, and continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valve train were confirmed. Thumb compression and suction were observed from all six cylinders as the engine was rotated. The interiors of the cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope and no anomalies were noted. The two-piece fuel injector nozzles were disassembled and found to be unobstructed. Disassembly of both magnetos revealed that their internal components sustained thermal damage. The removed sparkplug electrodes exhibited light brown coloration and worn out normal condition when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. Medical And Pathological InformationThe Arkansas State Crime Lab Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on the pilot and took toxicological samples. The autopsy indicated that the pilot's cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was an accident. No significant natural disease was identified during the autopsy.The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory performed toxicological testing on the samples taken during the autopsy. The toxicology report indicated that the samples sustained putrefaction and listed the following findings:418 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Blood336 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Heart309 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Lung182 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Kidney152 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in UrineDiphenhydramine detected in Urine0.049 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in BloodPioglitazone detected in UrineValsartan detected in UrineValsartan detected in BloodEthanol is the intoxicant commonly found in beer, wine, and liquor. It acts as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. After ingestion, at low doses, it impairs judgment, psychomotor functioning, and vigilance; at higher doses it can cause coma and death. The effects of ethanol on aviators are generally well understood; it significantly impairs pilots' performance, even at very low levels. Federal Aviation Regulations prohibit any person from acting or attempting to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.040 gm/dl (40 mg/dl) or more ethanol in the blood. Ethanol may also be produced in the body after death by microbial activity.Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. It is available over the counter under many names including Benadryl and Unisom. Diphenhydramine carries the following FDA warning: "may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery)." The therapeutic range of diphenhydramine is 0.0250 to 0.1120 ug/ml; this is the range of blood levels where psychoactive effects are expected. Diphenhydramine undergoes postmortem redistribution where, after death, the drug can leech from storage sites back into blood. Central postmortem levels may be about two to three times higher than peripheral levels. Compared to other antihistamines, diphenhydramine causes marked sedation; it is also classed as a CNS depressant, and this is the rationale for its use as a sleep aid. Altered mood and impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance may also be observed. In a driving simulator study, a single dose of diphenhydramine impaired driving ability more than a blood alcohol concentration of 0.100%.Valsartan is a prescription blood pressure medication often marketed with the name Diovan. It is not generally considered impairing. Pioglitazone is a prescription medication for diabetes; it is often marketed with the name Actos. It is not generally considered impairing and does not lead to the development of hypoglycemia.Review of the pilot's FAA medical records indicated that he had reported no chronic medical conditions and no medication use to the FAA.

NTSB Identification: CEN16FA21514 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Jonesboro, ARAircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, registration: N789MRInjuries: 1 Fatal.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On June 12, 2016, about 1530 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company, R44 II helicopter, N789MR, impacted terrain during takeoff from the Classic Airstrip (23AR), near Jonesboro, Arkansas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed during the impact and subsequent ground fire. The helicopter was registered to Floyd Vuncannon Aviation Inc. and was operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from 23AR at the time of the accident.A witness at 23AR reported that he saw the accident. He, in part, indicated that the saw the accident pilot coming from his hangar back to another hangar. When the witness finished working on a task, he heard the accident pilot say that he was going to put on an airshow. The witness was in the process of departing from the airport when he saw the accident pilot getting into his helicopter across the runway on the airstrip, east of his location. The witness observed that the helicopter lifted off at a 45-degree pitch-up attitude. The helicopter rose to about 125 feet and descended out of sight behind hangars between the two airstrips. The witness indicated that he thought he "heard it hit" but the engine never shutdown. The helicopter began to rise upwards above the hangars and it began to spin around. It appeared that the tail rotor was not working and the skids were bent as if it had hit the ground. It continued to rise to approximately the same liftoff height. The helicopter descended again, impacted terrain, and burst into flames in the middle of the west airstrip. The witness stated that another witness nearby called 911 and they waited for first responders to arrive.The 73-year-old pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, rotorcraft gyroplane, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate, expiring October 31, 2017, with airplane single engine, rotorcraft helicopter, and rotorcraft gyroplane ratings. He held a FAA second-class medical certificate issued on May 1, 2014, with limitations that the pilot "must wear corrective lenses and possess glasses for near and intermediate vision." At the time of that medical examination, he reported 6,000 hours total flight time to date and 110 hours in the six months before that examination. A review of excerpts from the pilot's logbook, acquired by a FAA inspector, did not reveal an entry for a flight review. The logbook pages were not totaled and the last entry was dated August 2, 2015.N789MR, serial number 10561, was a Robinson R44 II, Raven, four-place, two-bladed, single main rotor, single-engine helicopter, with a spring and yield skid type landing gear. The primary structure of its fuselage was welded steel tubing and riveted aluminum sheet. The tailcone was a monocoque structure consisting of an aluminum skin. A Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5, serial number L-29728-48A, engine rated at 205 horsepower, powered the helicopter. The helicopter had a five-minute takeoff rating of 245 horsepower.A review of helicopter logbook excerpts, acquired by a FAA inspector, showed that the helicopter's last annual inspection was completed on July 2 2015. At the time of that inspection, the helicopter had accumulated a total time of 1,242.1 hours.The helicopter manufacturer issued, R44 Service Bulletin (SB)-78B, on December 20, 2010, and issued a revised SB on September 28, 2012. The SB, in part, indicated:TO: R44 and R44 II owners, operators, and maintenance personnelSUBJECT: Bladder Fuel Tank RetrofitROTORCRAFT AFFECTED: R44 helicopters S/N 0001 thru 2064, and R44 IIHelicopters S/N 10001 thru 12890, unless previously accomplished.TIME OF COMPLIANCE: As soon as practical, but no later than 30 April 2013.BACKGROUND: This bulletin requires R44 helicopters with all-aluminumfuel tanks to be retrofitted with bladder-type tanks. In addition to afactory retrofit program, a field kit is now available. To improve the R44fuel system's resistance to a post-accident fuel leak, this retrofit mustbe performed as soon as possible.The review of the helicopter logbook excerpts did not reveal an entry for the installation of the fuel tank mandatory SB.At 1538, the recorded weather at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, near Jonesboro, Arkansas, was: Wind 090 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; present weather thunderstorms in the vicinity; temperature 34 degrees C; dew point 21 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury.23AR was a private, non-towered airport, which was owned by an individual. It was located about seven miles east of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The airport had an estimated elevation of 260 feet above mean sea level. The airport's published runway 17/35 was a 2,600 feet by 80 feet runway with a turf surface.Another north/south oriented turf runway west of the published runway existed. It was located about 350 feet west of the published runway and it was owned by another individual.The main helicopter wreckage came to rest about 1,800 feet and 35 degrees from the intersection of Highway 18 and Barnhill Road. The helicopter's resting heading was about 270 degrees magnetic. The tailcone was folded to the left and separated near its forward end. Most of the aluminum and fiberglass components of the fuselage were discolored, deformed, and consumed by fire. The aft section of the tailcone was separated and it came to rest approximately 20 feet south of the airframe. The tail rotor gearbox remained attached to the aft bulkhead of the aft section of the tailcone. The empennage was separated from the bulkhead and the empennage came to rest approximately 40 feet south of the airframe. Both tail rotor blades were separated near their roots and came to rest east of the airframe on the other side of a hangar. The main rotor gearbox and main rotor was separated from the airframe and found resting about three feet north of the airframe. Ground scars north of the airframe were consistent with main rotor blade strikes. Main rotor blade tip pieces were recovered in and or near the scars and yellow paint was transferred to the dirt inside the scars.A series of ground scars consistent with the shape, size, and distance apart for tail rotor strikes were located east of the location that the tail rotor blades had come to rest.An on-scene examination of the wreckage was conducted. All flight control rod ends remained attached to their attachment points. Sections of push pull tubes were not continuous, separated from their original location, and/or consumed by fire. All flight control discontinuities exhibited either thermal damage or separations consistent with overload. No preimpact anomalies were detected in the flight control system.The fuel mixture control knob was found in the full rich position. The mixture control wire was found disconnected near its fuel mixture arm on the engine fuel control servo unit. The throttle linkage sustained thermal damage and its position could not be determined. The governor switch sustained thermal damage and its position could not be determined.The right skid tube was recovered from under the main wreckage and it sustained thermal damage. The four struts were separated from the airframe and were thermally damaged. The aft cross tube appeared to be thermally deformed. A portion of the front cross tube was consumed by fire. The remaining end was not bent near its elbow. The tailskid had some witness marks on its lowest bottom surface consistent with scuffing.Observed damage to the cabin structure included deformation, discoloration, and consummation by fire. The removable cyclic and collective were recovered from under seat debris. The removable pedals were installed. The pedals were found in a neutral position. The vertical tube of the cyclic control was bent aft. The cyclic grip was consumed by fire. The aft left and aft right doors were recovered in the main wreckage and sustained thermal damage. The two front doors were not identified or found in the wreckage.The upper and lower frames were bent and had some separations in their tubes. The surface of the separations exhibited angular and jagged features consistent with overload. The lower edge of the vertical firewall was deformed. The tailcone was bent to the left and thermally damaged at its forward end. An aft tailcone bay by its tail rotor was separated from the tailcone and the separated tailcone exhibited deformation damage consistent with several tail rotor blade strikes. The empennage was separated from the aft bulkhead. The surface of the separation was rough and jagged. The lower vertical stabilizer was bent to the right as viewed from its aft looking forward. A segment of the tail rotor guard that included the curved section of the tail rotor guard was separated below its forward mount and forward of its aft mount. The surfaces of the guard's separations were angular and jagged. The aft section of the tail rotor guard remained attached to its mount and the tip of the tail rotor guard exhibited witness marks consistent with scuffing on its lower left surface.Sections of the V-belts were consumed by fire with charred sections remaining in the grooves of the upper sheave and on the ground below the lower sheave. The alignment strut's outer rod end for the upper sheave exhibited a separation consistent with overload. No scoring was visible on the sheave face. Scoring was visible on the rod end jam nut adjacent to the aft sheave face. The overrunning clutch operated properly. The actuator was extended approximately one inch.The main rotor gearbox was separated at the upper housing. The main rotor driveshaft was bent approximately 15 degrees at the swashplate. The mast tube was bent and exhibited thermal discoloration and damage. Both elastomeric teeter stops were consumed by fire. Their brackets were bent across the center. One droop stop tusk was bent downward and the spindle was found cracked. The surface of its crack separation was angular and jagged. The other spindle coning bolthole was deformed.Both main rotor blades exhibited thermal damage and deformation consistent with impact damage.The lower frame tube adjacent to the intermediate flex coupling exhibited rotational scoring. The tail rotor driveshaft was bent near its forward end and was disconnected just aft of the bend. The tail rotor drive shaft damper bearing bracket was separated from the bulkhead. The damper bearing exhibited thermal damage and would not rotate. The tail rotor gearbox rotated with no anomalies. Oil was visible in its sight gage. The blades were separated near their roots. The surface of the tail rotor blades' separations exhibited angular and jagged features consistent with overload. Both blades were bent to the right and they exhibited damage to their leading edge at their tips. One blade exhibited deformation damage that was consistent with rivet locations on tailcone. Witness marks running chordwise near the blade tips were present on both blades, which appeared to be consistent with terrain contact.Observed damage to the cooling fan included discoloration and it was deformed around its forward edge. The cooling scroll was consumed by fire. The alternator's cooling fan was deformed.The engine was found lying upright and it remained attached to its tubular engine mounts. The exterior surfaces of the engine were discolored consistent with exposure to a post-impact fire. Sections of the oil sump were consumed in the fire. The fuel servo was found separated and partially thermally consumed. The remaining rear mounted accessories exhibited features consistent with fire damaged.The engine was partially disassembled. The engine was rotated by turning the cooling fan and continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valve train was confirmed. Thumb compression and suction was observed from all six cylinders as the engine was rotated. The interiors of the cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope and no anomalies noted. The two-piece fuel injector nozzles were disassembled and were found to be unobstructed. Disassembly of both magnetos revealed their internal components sustained thermal damage. The removed sparkplug electrodes exhibited light brown coloration and worn out normal condition when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug chart.The Arkansas State Crime Lab Medical Examiner's Office was asked to conduct an autopsy and to take toxicological samples.The turf, in a circular shaped area around the helicopter was found charred. Portions or the helicopter wreckage were discolored, deformed, and consumed by fire consistent with a ground fire.

Location: San Pedro, CAAccident Number: WPR16FA065ADate & Time: 02/05/2016, 1500 PSTRegistration: N9872RAircraft: BEECH M35Aircraft Damage: SubstantialDefining Event: Midair collisionInjuries: 2 FatalFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal Analysis A private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were on a personal cross-county flight in a Beechcraft M35, and a private pilot was on a local personal flight in a Bellanca 8KCAB when the airplanes collided in mid-air over an ocean harbor. Before the collision, the Beechcraft, a low-wing airplane, was descending from 3,500 ft, and flying in an east-northeast direction. The Bellanca, a high-wing airplane, was flying toward the sun in a west-northwest direction with intermittent radar returns between 3,000 and 3,500 ft.Radar data showed the tracks of both airplanes converge with the airplanes approaching each other nearly head-on. The last radar return from the Beechcraft, just before the collision, was at 3,300 ft. Following the collision, both airplanes descended, impacted the ocean, and sank.Postaccident examination of the recovered wreckage of both airplanes revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of either airplane. Postaccident examination did not identify any paint transfer marks on the airframe of either airplanes; however, not all the parts of the airplanes were recovered.Ethanol was found in the tissues of each pilot, however, it is most likely that the ethanol was the result of post mortem production. Diphenhydramine, which can cause drowsiness and slow psychomotor reaction time, was detected in the Bellanca pilot's tissue; however, the lack of a blood sample precluded determination of the level of the drug present, and it could not be determined whether the Bellanca pilot was impaired by the effects of diphenhydramine.All three pilots had a limitation on their Federal Aviation Administration medical certificates for eyeglasses; but two, the Beech pilot-rated passenger and the Bellanca pilot, only required them for near vision, which was not a factor in this accident. The Bellanca pilot had had cataract surgery on both eyes more than a year before the accident; this would be expected to significantly improve her vision and, therefore, likely did not contribute to the accident. Overall, it is unlikely that any problem with distant vision in any of the three pilots contributed to the accident.It could not be determined why the Beechcraft pilot did not see the Bellanca. The Bellanca pilot was flying toward the sun, and sun glare could have contributed to her inability to see the approaching Beechcraft. Probable Cause and FindingsThe National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other as they converged nearly head-on, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the effect of sun glare on the other pilot. FindingsPersonnel issuesMonitoring other aircraft - Pilot (Cause)Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot of other aircraft (Cause)Environmental issuesGlare - Effect on personnel (Factor)Glare - Effect on operation (Factor)Factual InformationHistory of FlightManeuveringMidair collision (Defining event)HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 5, 2016, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Beechcraft M35 airplane, N9872R, and a Bellanca 8KCAB airplane, N5057G, collided over the Los Angeles Harbor about 2 miles south of Angels Gate Lighthouse, San Pedro, California. The Beechcraft was owned and operated by a private pilot. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger onboard the Beechcraft, and the private pilot onboard the Bellanca were fatally injured. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The Beechcraft and the Bellanca were registered to and operated by their respective pilots. Both personal flights were operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans had been filed for either flight. The Beechcraft Departed Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, at an unknown time, and was destined for Zamperini Field Airport (TOA), Torrance, California. The Bellanca departed TOA about 1430 for a local area flight.According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Beechcraft received flight following from air traffic control until 7 miles northwest of Santa Monica Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California, at which point radar services were terminated in preparation for the airplane to pass through the Special Flight Rules (SFRA), commonly referred to as the visual fight rules (VFR) corridor, over Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Pilots traveling south through the VFR corridor are expected to maintain 3,500 ft. and use a special frequency to exchange position information with other pilots passing through the corridor.A review of the radar data showed that the Beechcraft traveled on a southeast heading from CMA along the coastline and through the SFRA over LAX. Once through the SFRA, the Beechcraft continued southbound until it passed over Rancho Palos Verde, at which point, it made a turn to the east over the ocean near San Pedro at an altitude of about 3,500 ft. The low-wing Beechcraft was on an east-northeast heading and in a descent at the time of the collision. The last radar return received before the collision showed the Beechcraft at 3,300 ft.The radar data showed that the Bellanca, departed from TOA on a VFR local area flight about 1430. The pilot flew south toward the coastline, and then generally flew over the ocean south of San Pedro. The airplane's transponder operated intermittently on a 1200 code and reported altitudes between 3,000 and 3,500 ft. Primary radar returns showed that the high-wing Bellanca was on a west-northwest heading at the time of the collision. The radar showed that the tracks of the two airplanes converged with the airplanes approaching each other at a shallow angle that was nearly head-on (see Figure 1.)

After the collision, primary radar returns showed the Beechcraft continued in a northeast direction for about 27 seconds before it impacted the water, and the Bellanca made a descending left turn toward the southwest and impacted the water at a local time of 1501.A pilot conducting flight training in the area, overheard on frequency 121.95, a female pilot transmit '57G we're in trouble here.' The pilot attempted to ascertain the female pilots' location, but the response received by the accident pilot was 'help.' The pilot stated that he had been flying in the area for about an hour, and traffic in the area was light; he did not recall hearing any radio calls from either the Bellanca or the Beechcraft prior to the radio calls requesting help.A witness was on his boat and standing just inside the cabin when he heard a loud buzz over his boat. He turned around and saw a red and white airplane crash into the water about 100 ft directly north of his boat. The airplane struck the ocean at a high rate of speed and at a 90° angle. After notifying the United States Coast Guard, he traveled to the site and reported that there was no sign of an airplane.Another witness, was standing at the stern of his boat looking back toward the mainland. He saw an airplane in a nose dive and watched it crash into the ocean. The witness turned slightly to his right and caught view of a second airplane crashing into the ocean.PERSONNEL INFORMATIONBeechcraft Pilot/OwnerThe pilot, age 61, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. His third-class medical certificate was issued on April 02, 2015, with limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that he had a total of 1,186 flight hours with 19.4 hours in the past 6 months.Beechcraft Pilot-Rated PassengerThe pilot-rated passenger, age 80, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land and instrument airplane; his flight instructor rating expired March 31, 2017. His third-class medical certificate was issued on November 17, 2015, with the limitation that the pilot must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that he had a total of 2,394 flight hours with 16.7 hours in the past 6 months.Bellanca Pilot/OwnerThe pilot, age 72, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. Her third-class medical certificate was issued on May 18, 2015, with the limitation that the pilot must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot had had cataract surgery on both eyes more than a year prior to the accident. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that she had a total of 1,034 flight hours with 6 hours in the past 6 months.AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONBeechcraftThe Beechcraft was a low-wing airplane that was painted red and white. The airplane had a red undercarriage, and a white nose/cowling section along with the top portion of the airplane.BellancaThe Bellanca was a high-wing airplane that was painted red, white, and blue. The airplane had a white undercarriage, with blue and white striping on the underside of both wings; with the top portion from the engine to the tail painted red. The underside of the wings was red, and the top was white and blue. The tail section was a red/white combination.METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONCOMMUNICATIONSWRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe Bellanca, at the time of the accident was flying toward the sun. According to the United States Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, sunset was at 1728.After the mid-air collision, both airplanes impacted the water and sank. Multiple search and rescue agencies responded to the area, and the wreckage of the Beechcraft was located at a depth of 88-foot sea water (fsw) and recovered by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau's Dive Team on February 7, 2016. They continued the search for the Bellanca, and recovered the wreckage on February 9, 2016; the Bellanca was at a depth of 110 fsw.According to the recovery divers all 3 pilots remained in their respective airplanes.MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe County of Los Angeles, Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner conducted postmortem examinations of all three pilots. The cause of death for all three pilots was reported as multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident.The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from all three pilots. Carbon monoxide and cyanide testing was not performed. The results were as follows.Beechcraft Pilot/OwnerEthanol was detected in muscle tissue at 61 (mg/dL, mg/hg), and in lung tissue at 30 (mg/dL, mg/hg); putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Tested drugs yielded negative results.Beechcraft Pilot-Rate PassengerEthanol was detected in muscle tissue at 75 (mg/dL, mg/hg), no ethanol was detected in liver tissue, and putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Atorvastatin a non-impairing cholesterol lower drug, was detected in liver and kidney tissues.Bellanca PilotCarbon monoxide and cyanide tester were not performed. Ethanol was detected in muscle tissue at 30 (mg/dL, mg/hg) and in liver tissue at 14 (mg/dL, mg/hg); putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, was detected in liver and kidney tissues.TEST AND RESEARCHAn examination of both airplanes was performed on March 15, 2016, at Plain Parts in Pleasant Grove, California. There was no evidence found of any preimpact anomalies of either airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No paint transfer witness marks were identified on either airplane.BEECHCRAFTDuring the airplane examination, the outer 5-6 feet of the left aileron and wing, and the left stabilizer were missing from the Beechcraft and not recovered. The main landing gear remained attached to the wings. The left main landing gear had a deep cut through the tire. The nose landing gear was missing and not recovered. The pushrods, intake manifold, and exhaust tubes separated from the left side of the engine and were not recovered.The propeller for the Beechcraft remained attached to the engine. Both propeller blades had leading edge gouges and significant bending; one blade was bent forward. Neither propeller blade could be rotated in the hub.A hand-held portable GPS device recovered from the Beechcraft was shipped to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorder Division in Washington, DC, for further examination. An external examination of the unit revealed water and impact damage. The GPS unit was disassembled, and the data chip was removed and read out. One track log was extracted dated December 31, 1989, which was not consistent with the accident flight.BELLANCADuring the airplane examination approximately 9 feet of the outboard section of the left wing was missing and not recovered. There was also significant indentation of the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer.The propeller for the Bellanca remained attached to the engine. Both blades exhibited aft bending, with no scratches or impact marks identified.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAccording to the FAA's VFR aeronautical sectional chart for the area that the accident occurred, there is an applicable note outlined in magenta for the area. It's a CAUTION note that identified the area as intensive flight training and indicated radio frequencies to be used by aircraft to establish two-radio communication before entering the class C airspace. The radio frequencies are a best practice for pilots training in those areas, as well as for en route pilots transitioning through the airspace. (See Figure 2)

Mary Falstrom: http://registry.faa.gov/N5057G Location: San Pedro, CAAccident Number: WPR16FA065BDate & Time: 02/05/2016, 1500 PSTRegistration: N5057GAircraft: BELLANCA 8KCABAircraft Damage: SubstantialDefining Event: Midair collisionInjuries: 1 FatalFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - PersonalHISTORY OF FLIGHTOn February 5, 2016, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Beechcraft M35 airplane, N9872R, and a Bellanca 8KCAB airplane, N5057G, collided over the Los Angeles Harbor about 2 miles south of Angels Gate Lighthouse, San Pedro, California. The Beechcraft was owned and operated by a private pilot. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger onboard the Beechcraft, and the private pilot onboard the Bellanca were fatally injured. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The Beechcraft and the Bellanca were registered to and operated by their respective pilots. Both personal flights were operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans had been filed for either flight. The Beechcraft Departed Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, at an unknown time, and was destined for Zamperini Field Airport (TOA), Torrance, California. The Bellanca departed TOA about 1430 for a local area flight.According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Beechcraft received flight following from air traffic control until 7 miles northwest of Santa Monica Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California, at which point radar services were terminated in preparation for the airplane to pass through the Special Flight Rules (SFRA), commonly referred to as the visual fight rules (VFR) corridor, over Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. Pilots traveling south through the VFR corridor are expected to maintain 3,500 ft. and use a special frequency to exchange position information with other pilots passing through the corridor.A review of the radar data showed that the Beechcraft traveled on a southeast heading from CMA along the coastline and through the SFRA over LAX. Once through the SFRA, the Beechcraft continued southbound until it passed over Rancho Palos Verde, at which point, it made a turn to the east over the ocean near San Pedro at an altitude of about 3,500 ft. The low-wing Beechcraft was on an east-northeast heading and in a descent at the time of the collision. The last radar return received before the collision showed the Beechcraft at 3,300 ft.The radar data showed that the Bellanca, departed from TOA on a VFR local area flight about 1430. The pilot flew south toward the coastline, and then generally flew over the ocean south of San Pedro. The airplane's transponder operated intermittently on a 1200 code and reported altitudes between 3,000 and 3,500 ft. Primary radar returns showed that the high-wing Bellanca was on a west-northwest heading at the time of the collision. The radar showed that the tracks of the two airplanes converged with the airplanes approaching each other at a shallow angle that was nearly head-on (see Figure 1.)

After the collision, primary radar returns showed the Beechcraft continued in a northeast direction for about 27 seconds before it impacted the water, and the Bellanca made a descending left turn toward the southwest and impacted the water at a local time of 1501.A pilot conducting flight training in the area, overheard on frequency 121.95, a female pilot transmit '57G we're in trouble here.' The pilot attempted to ascertain the female pilots' location, but the response received by the accident pilot was 'help.' The pilot stated that he had been flying in the area for about an hour, and traffic in the area was light; he did not recall hearing any radio calls from either the Bellanca or the Beechcraft prior to the radio calls requesting help.A witness was on his boat and standing just inside the cabin when he heard a loud buzz over his boat. He turned around and saw a red and white airplane crash into the water about 100 ft directly north of his boat. The airplane struck the ocean at a high rate of speed and at a 90° angle. After notifying the United States Coast Guard, he traveled to the site and reported that there was no sign of an airplane.Another witness, was standing at the stern of his boat looking back toward the mainland. He saw an airplane in a nose dive and watched it crash into the ocean. The witness turned slightly to his right and caught view of a second airplane crashing into the ocean.PERSONNEL INFORMATIONBeechcraft Pilot/OwnerThe pilot, age 61, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. His third-class medical certificate was issued on April 02, 2015, with limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that he had a total of 1,186 flight hours with 19.4 hours in the past 6 months.Beechcraft Pilot-Rated PassengerThe pilot-rated passenger, age 80, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land and instrument airplane; his flight instructor rating expired March 31, 2017. His third-class medical certificate was issued on November 17, 2015, with the limitation that the pilot must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that he had a total of 2,394 flight hours with 16.7 hours in the past 6 months.Bellanca Pilot/OwnerThe pilot, age 72, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. Her third-class medical certificate was issued on May 18, 2015, with the limitation that the pilot must have available glasses for near vision. The pilot had had cataract surgery on both eyes more than a year prior to the accident. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for examination. A review of the pilot's most recent medical application indicated that she had a total of 1,034 flight hours with 6 hours in the past 6 months.AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONBeechcraftThe Beechcraft was a low-wing airplane that was painted red and white. The airplane had a red undercarriage, and a white nose/cowling section along with the top portion of the airplane.BellancaThe Bellanca was a high-wing airplane that was painted red, white, and blue. The airplane had a white undercarriage, with blue and white striping on the underside of both wings; with the top portion from the engine to the tail painted red. The underside of the wings was red, and the top was white and blue. The tail section was a red/white combination.METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONCOMMUNICATIONSWRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe Bellanca, at the time of the accident was flying toward the sun. According to the United States Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, sunset was at 1728.After the mid-air collision, both airplanes impacted the water and sank. Multiple search and rescue agencies responded to the area, and the wreckage of the Beechcraft was located at a depth of 88-foot sea water (fsw) and recovered by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau's Dive Team on February 7, 2016. They continued the search for the Bellanca, and recovered the wreckage on February 9, 2016; the Bellanca was at a depth of 110 fsw.According to the recovery divers all 3 pilots remained in their respective airplanes.MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe County of Los Angeles, Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner conducted postmortem examinations of all three pilots. The cause of death for all three pilots was reported as multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident.The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from all three pilots. Carbon monoxide and cyanide testing was not performed. The results were as follows.Beechcraft Pilot/OwnerEthanol was detected in muscle tissue at 61 (mg/dL, mg/hg), and in lung tissue at 30 (mg/dL, mg/hg); putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Tested drugs yielded negative results.Beechcraft Pilot-Rate PassengerEthanol was detected in muscle tissue at 75 (mg/dL, mg/hg), no ethanol was detected in liver tissue, and putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Atorvastatin a non-impairing cholesterol lower drug, was detected in liver and kidney tissues.Bellanca PilotCarbon monoxide and cyanide tester were not performed. Ethanol was detected in muscle tissue at 30 (mg/dL, mg/hg) and in liver tissue at 14 (mg/dL, mg/hg); putrefaction of the specimens was identified. Diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, was detected in liver and kidney tissues.TEST AND RESEARCHAn examination of both airplanes was performed on March 15, 2016, at Plain Parts in Pleasant Grove, California. There was no evidence found of any preimpact anomalies of either airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No paint transfer witness marks were identified on either airplane.BEECHCRAFTDuring the airplane examination, the outer 5-6 feet of the left aileron and wing, and the left stabilizer were missing from the Beechcraft and not recovered. The main landing gear remained attached to the wings. The left main landing gear had a deep cut through the tire. The nose landing gear was missing and not recovered. The pushrods, intake manifold, and exhaust tubes separated from the left side of the engine and were not recovered.The propeller for the Beechcraft remained attached to the engine. Both propeller blades had leading edge gouges and significant bending; one blade was bent forward. Neither propeller blade could be rotated in the hub.A hand-held portable GPS device recovered from the Beechcraft was shipped to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorder Division in Washington, DC, for further examination. An external examination of the unit revealed water and impact damage. The GPS unit was disassembled, and the data chip was removed and read out. One track log was extracted dated December 31, 1989, which was not consistent with the accident flight.BELLANCADuring the airplane examination approximately 9 feet of the outboard section of the left wing was missing and not recovered. There was also significant indentation of the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer.The propeller for the Bellanca remained attached to the engine. Both blades exhibited aft bending, with no scratches or impact marks identified.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAccording to the FAA's VFR aeronautical sectional chart for the area that the accident occurred, there is an applicable note outlined in magenta for the area. It's a CAUTION note that identified the area as intensive flight training and indicated radio frequencies to be used by aircraft to establish two-radio communication before entering the class C airspace. The radio frequencies are a best practice for pilots training in those areas, as well as for en route pilots transitioning through the airspace. (See Figure 2)

NTSB Identification: WPR16FA065A 14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Friday, February 05, 2016 in San Pedro, CAAircraft: BEECH M35, registration: N9872RInjuries: 3 Fatal.NTSB Identification: WPR16FA065B14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Friday, February 05, 2016 in San Pedro, CAAircraft: BELLANCA 8KCAB, registration: N5057GInjuries: 3 Fatal.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On February 5, 2016, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a single-engine Beech M35, N9872R, and a single engine Bellanca 8KCAB, N5057G, were substantially damaged when they collided in mid-air over the Los Angeles Harbor about 2 miles south of Angels Gate Lighthouse, San Pedro, California. The Beech was owned and operated by the private pilot. Both the private pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) onboard were fatally injured. The Bellanca was owned and operated by the private pilot, the sole occupant, and was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both flights were operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plans had been filed. The Beech departed Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, at an unknown time, and was destined for Zamperini Field Airport (TOA), Torrance, California. The Bellanca departed TOA about 1430 for a local area flight.Both airplanes impacted the water and sank. Multiple search and rescue agencies responded to area, and the wreckage of the Beech was located and recovered by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau's Dive Team on February 7, 2016. They continued the search for the Bellanca, and recovered the wreckage on February 9, 2016.